Paving-block.



E. A. TRACY.

PAVING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. I912. mwmfifim Patented Apr.13,1915.

- 2 0 m m /Z PAVING-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Application filed June 7, 1912. Serial No. 702,181.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. TRACY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Tmprovement in Paving-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to paving-blocks, and is intended as an improvement upon the paving-block of Patent $151,017,706, dated February 20, 1912, granted to me. In the paving-block of said patent a grid is arranged in a kerf, formed longitudinally in the top of the block, intermediate the width of a recess, the top of the grid being flush with the top or tread-face of the block.

My present invention has for its object the provision of means for locking said grid in place, and, in the preferred embodiment of my invention also involves means for connecting said locking-means with the block, whereby said locking-means is itself locked in place.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of street pavement composed of paving-blocks embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the block shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the blocks. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a portion of one of the blocks to be referred to. Fig. 5 is a modification.

The block 10 is of suitable shape and dimensions as may be required to serve as a paving-block, and is usually composed of wood which has been treated by any suitable preserving process, or it may be composed of any suitable material. The treadface of the block is here shown as having a recess 12, arranged intermediate its width and extended from end to end of it, and intermediate the width of said recess 12 a kerf 13 is cut to receive the metallic grid 15. Said kerf is formed with parallel sides and the grid likewise has parallel sides. Said grid has its ends formed other than straight, and, as here shown, said ends are inclined from top to bottom, as represented at 16, and said grid is usually made shorter than the length of the block, and when placed in the kerf spaces are formed at each end of the grid which are wider at the top than at the bottom and are designed to contain any suitable cement 20, which, when hardened forms a wedge-shaped retainer to hold the grid in place. The structure thus described represents the modified form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 5. In case two blocks, such as described, are arranged end to end, said cement-locking means fills the space at the adjacent ends of said blocks and thereby locks the adjacent ends of the grids in place, and at the same time holds the blocks against displacement. I prefer, however, to carry the invention further and arrange for locking said retaining means in place. Such provision is here made by boring a hole 25 in each end of the block, at the bottom of the kerf, so that the hole thus bored is in open communication with the aforesaid space which is designed to be filled with cement, and the cement which is placed in said space enters the lateral openings or recesses formed by the hole, and, when hardened, forms lateral projections on the cement-retaining means, thus forming a locking-key by which the grid is locked in place and the key itself is locked in place by engagement with the block.

claim 1. A paving block having a kerf throughout its length, a metallic grid arranged in said kerf and having its ends forming inclined portions extending forwardly toward the bottom of the kerf, whereby to form spaces adapted to aline with similar spaces of adjacent blocks to form cement-receiving spaces wider at top than at the bottom, the said block being formed with additional openings to communicate with said spaces for cement receiving purposes.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the paving-block herein described composed of a block having a kerf throughout its length with lateral recesses at each end of the block opening out of the kerf, a metallic grid arranged in said kerf having inclined portions at its ends, arranged to form spaces at the ends of the groove for a locking-key, said spaces being wider at the top than at the bottom and being in open communication with said lateral recesses.

3. A paving block having a kerf throughout its length, a metallic grid arranged in said kerf, the grid being ofless length than the kerf, and wedge-shaped retainers engaging the kerfs of adjacent paving blocks and overlying the ends of the grids of said adjacent blocks and holding said grids against upward movement, said retainers being formed with projections to engage the block to prevent relative upward movement of the retainers.

4. A paving block having a kerf throughmunicating with the kerf and of greater out its length, a metallic grid arranged in Width than the kerf. said kerf, retainers arranged at the ends of In testimony whereof I have signed my the grids of adjacent blocks for holding said name to this specification in the presence of 5 grids in place, said retainers having lateral two subscribing Witnesses.

projections for locking engagement With the respective blocks. EDVARD TRACK 5. A paving block formed With a kerf ex- Witnesses:

tending longitudinally thereof, the ends of B. J. NOYES,

10 the block being formed With a recess com- H. B. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionefi of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

